Activity Title

Data Quality Hunt

Author(s)

Sarah Morrisseau and Christine Voyer

Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Vital Signs Program

Questions

What makes great data?

Overview

Vital Signs data is used by students, the public, and professional scientists to better understand invasive and native species in Maine. For that reason, observationsneed to be of a certain quality to ensure their usefulness. Before students do their own data collection, they take time to explore and decide what good quality data looks like.

Activity Type

Exploratory

Learning Objectives

  • Students identify high quality data that are usable by the scientific community

Grade Level

7 and 8

Setting

Classroom

Materials

Computers with web access

Student handout

Time Needed

40 minutes

Set-up:

Students work individually or in small groups at computers, exploring the data on the Vital Signs website.

Activity Procedure:

  1. Give students time to explore the Vital Signs database, using the student handout to collect their observations about data quality.
  2. Have a guided discussion with students about why data quality is important.
  3. Students use their observations from the website to brainstorm what makes good and great data, and how to improve data, have them share their findings.
  4. Make lists of characteristics of great data and okay data.
  5. When students disagree, offer them opportunities to state their case using evidence and examples from the database.
  6. Come to an agreement on the lists, of characteristics and post them in the room or agree to disagree.

Extension Ideas

  1. Have students share their thoughts with the Vital Signs community by leaving comments to users who they think have uploaded great data!
  2. Have students generate a rubric that will guide the assessment of their own species observations.

Data Quality Hunt!

FIND A GREATEVIDENCE PHOTO

Species name:

Username:

What was so great about it?

FIND AN OKAYEVIDENCE PHOTO

Species name:

Username:

Suggestions to improve next time:

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FIND A GREAT FIELD NOTE

Species name:

Username:

What was so great about it?

FIND AN OKAY FIELD NOTE

Species:

Username:

Suggestions to improve next time:

------

FIND A GREAT WRITTEN EVIDENCE STATEMENT

Species:

Username:

What was so great about it?

FIND AN OKAY WRITTEN EVIDENCE STATEMENT

Species:

Username:

Suggestions to improve next time:

------

FIND A GREATSAMPLING METHOD OR STUDY SITE PHOTO

Species:

Username:

What was so great about it?

FIND AN OKAY SAMPLING METHOD OR STUDY SITE PHOTO

Species:

Username:

Suggestions to improve next time: